THE indefatigable Phil Beer, one of the UK’s finest multi instrumentalists, is out on the road on a brand new 29-date solo UK tour, stopping off in Bisley on March 25.

Exeter-based Phil, best known as one half of folk legends Show of Hands (with singer songwriter Steve Knightley) will also have his own Phil Beer Band on the road in March and will find time to weave in appearances with the Bully Wee Band.

Named Musician of the Year in the 2011 Spiral Awards, run by popular music website Spiral Earth and nominated for the Musician of the Year title in the 2009 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, Phil is one of the most popular ambassadors for acoustic roots music.

Perhaps best known for his fiddle prowess, his skills don’t stop there - alongside rich vocals he also plays slide, Spanish and tenor guitar, mandocello, viola, mandolin and South American cuatro.

His engaging solo set will showcase a wide range of material including songs and tunes from his latest acclaimed CD release modestly entitled Plays Guitar and Fiddle. Sings a Bit”. The 15-track album ranges from the traditional The Warlike Lads of Russia to Willin’, penned by Lowell George, founder of American rock band Little Feat.

His impressive track record also includes touring with Mike Oldfield and being a member of the feted Albion Band from 1984-1991. Show of Hands became a full-time partnership in the early 90s - a band that has gone on to sell out the Royal Albert Hall four times and who were voted Best Live Act, by the public, at the 2004 Folk Awards and Best Duo in the 2010 Awards.

Phil famously guested on the Rolling Stones Steel Wheels album and Steve Harley’s Poetic Justice and in 2009 was delighted to appear with legendary American band Little Feat.

As a solo artist he released Rhythm Methodist in 2004 – a double album of songs and instrumentals - while his enviable versatility is shown in the Hard Works compilation of two earlier albums and a five disc boxed set of archive, new and live music and video. For more details visit www.philbeer.co.uk